Why the Toddler Program You Chose Matters
If you're searching for toddler preschool programs near West Des Moines, you're likely thinking about convenience, safety, and maybe early socialization. But here's something many parents don’t realize: the toddler years—from 18 months to 3 years—are the most critical period of brain development in a child’s life.
Dr. Maria Montessori famously said, "The most important period of life is not the age of university studies, but the first one—from birth to age six." During this time, a child’s brain forms over a million neural connections per second. At Montessori Children’s House, our toddler program is specifically designed to support this rapid growth with a curriculum rooted in independence, routine, and respect.
What Makes Montessori Different for Toddlers?
Our toddler classrooms don’t just keep children busy—we help them build real-life skills and a deep sense of confidence. The space is intentionally designed to meet toddlers where they are developmentally. With low shelves, child-sized furniture, and real tools (not plastic toys), toddlers are encouraged to explore and participate in daily life in meaningful ways.
Children in our toddler program learn how to:
Pour water from a small pitcher
Wash their hands independently
Put on and take off shoes and coats
Prepare their own snack
Care for their classroom environment
These may seem like small tasks—but they’re huge developmental leaps. Each successful moment boosts a child’s executive function, coordination, self-regulation, and sense of accomplishment.
Why Start at 18 Months?
Most preschool programs don’t begin until age 3, but waiting until then means missing the window when children are most receptive to building habits of focus, patience, and independence. Montessori supports toddlers during their “sensitive periods” for order, movement, and language—times when the brain is wired to absorb these skills effortlessly.
Starting your child at 18 months means they will:
Transition more smoothly into the 3–6 primary program
Build strong relationships with their teaching team early on
Develop consistent routines and language skills that carry into early childhood
What Parents Say After Enrolling
Families often tell us that their toddler seems calmer, more focused, and more independent after just a few weeks in our program. Many say their child begins taking initiative at home—helping clean up, dressing themselves, and communicating more clearly.
When the environment supports the child, the child thrives.
Now enrolling toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years for the 2025/2026 school year. Schedule a free tour to learn more.
